By: Muhammed Lamin Drammeh
In a country where females playing football is almost a taboo, and male coaches in charge of national women’s teams, two sagacious and industrious young female coaches, Maimuna Touray and Aji Jallow, have rolled their sleeves and set their eyes on going for glory in football coaching by accepting the responsibilities of coaching roles of male teams in the Serre Kunda East and Brufut Nawettan zones respectively.
Maimuna Touray, born on September 15, 2004, is said to be the first female head coach in the bustling East Park, home to one of the country’s biggest Naweetan zones, Serre Kunda East, when she takes charge of Rangers FC in the ongoing Nawettan.
The young lady generated an insatiable craving for football, which cropped up in her secondary school days. Due to a persistent knee injury, she had an ephemeral career as a footballer, but that never swayed her passion for football or clouded her dreams in the game.
In 2021, a team she used to play for, Kinteh’s Football Club, a second-tie club in the country’s women’s football, appointed her as an assistant coach to kick-start pursuing her dreams in a male-dominated path after recognizing her knack in coaching.
“I am convinced I can be a good coach in the country and beyond. As a woman, I believe I have a better opportunity to become a renowned coach at some point in The Gambia,” Mai told The Alkamba Times as she shared her dream path.
With such a gigantic dream, Mai took an audacious step in 2022 by accepting an offer to be part of the coaching set-up of Rangers FC, a notable Nawettan team in Serre Kunda East. Fast-forward to 2024, and Mai made history when she accepted the head coach position in the Naweetan, becoming the first female head coach in the zone’s Naweetan.
Despite the gender difference, Mai disclosed that she’s well-revered by her players and has no difficulty.
“They understand what I do and where I come from as a married woman. They are well-disciplined and listen to me when I speak. We have boundaries,” she revealed.
According to her, coaching came as a calling, especially coaching a male team. She conveyed that she is unwilling to dull her craving to continue coaching male teams despite working as an assistant coach at Kinteh’s FC. Mai believes that women coaches can coach male teams and still prevail.
The Rangers FC head coach has uncommon dexterity and a niche as a coach—statistician—especially in analyzing opposition teams’ games. This involves data analysis and individual player performances.
“Football is advancing, so being good at statistics is massive for me. I love analyzing games and tactics. I am really passionate about this, because there will be a time when this skill will be needed in coaching.”
She informed TAT that she dreams of coaching on the country’s biggest stages. She currently holds a CAF D-license in coaching.
Another shining young female footballer turned coach making strides in the game is Aji Jallow, CAF C license holder and the current head coach of Uprising Football Club, a male team in the Brufut Naweetan.
When the young Agie amassed her C license in coaching a few years ago, she was given Uprising FC. The team plays ‘Naweetan, a grassroots football competition in the town.
Like Maimuna Touray of Rangers FC, Aji also dreams of extending her coaching to a higher level beyond the country’s shore.
Living in a country where many doubt women’s ability to succeed in a male-dominated game, Aji faces doubt challenges but strives hard as a coach to turn doubters into believers.
“I face challenges of certain people doubting what I can do as a coach. Occasionally, they say I can’t do it because I am a lady. But thanks to Ya Allah, I am overcoming them by proving them wrong”, she said to TAT.
Regarding women taking charge of national teams, Aji is convinced that the direction will change. She brushed off the perception and the lack of belief in women coaching male teams.
She acknowledged that only a few ladies are in coaching, saying they need motivation and support to reach the dreamland.
“Gradually, I believe we will have more females coaching male teams. As for now, we have only two coaches serving as ambassadors to others who want to do it but lack courage because they are ladies.
“We just have to eradicate the mentality that male players should be coached by male coaches. When I see male coaches coaching female teams, I see it as a normal thing. We, the female coaches, just require courage, support, and motivation, and we will be there”, she remarked.
Women’s football in The Gambia is making little progress. Due to societal constraints, it faces many challenges.
Chero Mbenga, a female coach at Red Scorpions, has set a considerable precedent on a personal level, winning multiple women’s Division One League titles in a row with her team. Recently, she guided the team to its first participation in the CAF Women’s Champions League qualifiers in Sierra Leone, becoming the first Gambian female coach to register such a feat.
With Maimuna and Aji bracing up and going for glory, the country can hope to have women coaches on the big stage. However, with limited training for even male coaches, these young ladies will have to have abounding passion and luck to unlock their potential and dreams to reach the apex.
One Association that can significantly help these young ladies in coaching, aside from personal development, is the Gambia Football Coaches Association.
According to Kebba Jespa Touray, the president of The Gambia Football Coaches Association, they have plans for female coaches. However, he lamented that few people are showing up to take the baton. He encourages Mainuna and Aji to remain focused and challenge themselves to be at the top.
